IGS calls for built heritage to be enshrined in next Programme for Government
02.01.2025
Posted by IGS
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The Irish Georgian Society calls on the parties negotiating the next Programme for Government, to continue to demonstrate their commitment to the protection of Ireland’s historic built environment. This would also be manifested through implementing the pledges outlined in the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael General Election manifestos, such as Fianna Fáil's commitment to double the funding available under the Community Monuments Fund, the Historic Structures Fund and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, and to introduce a free OPW heritage pass to all those aged over 65; and Fine Gael's commitment to encourage the donation of heritage items by enhancing tax relief available to donors and to implement the Dublin City Centre Taskforce Recommendations.
The Irish Georgian Society also calls for a series of additional heritage policies to be integrated into policy for the next administration. These are set out below and include the promotion of heritage led regeneration, the creation of a National Landscape Character Map, the promotion of Traditional Building Skills, effective protection for Buildings at Risk, the development of a National Heritage Inventory of Cultural and Natural Sites, and continued support of Architectural Conservation Officers.
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Introduction
Ireland’s built heritage is an essential part of the country’s identity and contributes to the fundamental character and sense of place of our cities, towns, villages and countryside. A significant proportion of the population lives in older or historic buildings with 16% of the country’s residential building stock constructed prior to 1940[1]. Of these, some 45,000 are designated as protected structures with many more subject to other statutory protections (e.g. Architectural Conservation Areas).
A survey of 1,000 people undertaken by Ecclesiastical Insurance in 2022[2] found a great sense of pride in our built heritage with the majority of participants (73%) supporting the protection of heritage buildings for future generations, and 85% prioritising the protection of heritage buildings over their replacement. This interest in our built heritage is also reflected in Fáilte Ireland research which determined that 27% of domestic tourists in 2022 visited historic houses and castles while 26% visited gardens[3]. The economic benefit of our heritage was considered in a Heritage Council commissioned report in 2011 which found that Ireland’s historic environment was estimated to account for €1.5 billion or 1% of the State’s Gross Value Added (GVA) and some 2% of overall employment (approximately 65,000 employment positions)[4]. Heritage buildings are an intrinsic part of the fabric of almost every village and town in Ireland, and include small vernacular dwellings and retail outlets as well as larger historic public and private buildings.
Irish Georgian Society – Call for Policy implementation to protect Ireland’s Built Heritage
Given the very considerable role Ireland’s built heritage has in influencing our everyday lives and the consequent need for and benefits in its conservation, the Irish Georgian Society calls on the parties negotiating the programme for Government to consider the following points, and to integrate them into policy for the next administration:
1. Promotion of heritage led regeneration
The IGS calls for continued support to relevant government departments, Local Authorities and the Heritage Council in the delivery of the Town Centre First programme and the Historic Towns Initiative. These play a significant role in supporting and encouraging building conservation projects in communities around the country, improving the quality of our historic towns and villages, and generating pride in our architectural heritage. The objectives of Town Centre First are also supported through the Places for People, National Policy on Architecture which seeks “the conservation and re-imagining of our existing built heritage as well as well considered new architecture”.
2. Implementation of the Dublin City Taskforce proposals
The IGS calls for the implementation of the Dublin City Taskforce proposals for the revitalisation of O’Connell Street and its environs and for the government to work with Dublin City Council in determining a clear vision for managing and caring for Dublin’s historic built environment. The historic North Inner City is gradually being hollowed out and allowed to decay, in a manner which reflects an overall neglect and deterioration of the area.
3. Creation of a National Landscape Character Map
The IGS calls for the urgent implementation of Action 2 (ii) of the National Landscape Strategy 2015-2025, which states that “a National Landscape Character Map will be prepared… to describe and assess distinct landscape character areas at the national scale, ensuring consistency within and between public authority areas and functions”. We request that this task be allocated to a specific Department with responsibility for this area, for completion by 2029. Ireland has ratified the Florence Convention since 2002, and the process to compile this strategy has been in place for over 15 years. This action is also reflected in the National Policy on Architecture which includes a goal to “undertake a national landscape character assessment (including historic landscape characterisation)”. It is unclear how a robust spatial strategy for Ireland can be designed or implemented in the absence of a comprehensive assessment of the national landscape character. The Irish Georgian Society calls on the next Government to mandate the relevant Departments to work on a timeline and programme to ensure that this process is brought to a conclusion within the lifetime of the incoming Government.
4. Promotion of Traditional Building Skills
Traditional building skills are under threat and action is required to ensure that suitably qualified professionals are available in Ireland to undertake necessary repairs and maintenance to buildings of architectural heritage value. The IGS supports the Heritage Council’s objective to “scope the possibilities offered by a National Centre of Excellence dedicated to the preservation of traditional building skills, sustainability and innovation” (Heritage Council Strategic Plan, 2023-2028). It also supports the Heritage Council’s partnership with the King’s Foundation in delivering the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme which “which aims to preserve heritage building skills that are at risk of being lost by supporting those already working in the construction sector to push their skills to the next level”.
5. Further support for architectural conservation grants
While funding for conservation grants has increased significantly, the IGS believes that further supports are needed to assist owners of protected structures, of all scales, in safeguarding their buildings. Attendees of the IGS conference Taken for Granted: Spending to save Ireland's architectural heritage (2018) passed resolutions that called for additional assistance, a greater flexibility in spending of funds, and a more structured approach to the allocation of these. Consideration could be given to:
- The improvement and expansion of grant schemes for the protection and management of the national architectural heritage resource, particularly in response to the threat posed by climate change impacts but also to support essential maintenance works.
- Providing specific supports for thatched building owners to ensure adequate insurance cover is provided for their homes.
6. Effective protection of Buildings at Risk
The destruction in 2016 of Vernon Mount in Cork as a result of vandalism and fire provided a dramatic, though sadly not unique, example of failings within the current regulatory system for protecting our built heritage. An Taisce’s Buildings at Risk register provides ample case studies in this regard. The IGS calls for the provision of a more effective regulatory system, including stronger and better resourced enforcement. Priority should be given to devising and implementing policies and actions to safeguard buildings which are most at risk of loss of significance through decay, abandonment and potentially damaging development.
The IGS also calls for the clarification of relevant planning legislation to prevent the granting of planning permission for the demolition of protected structures on grounds related to financial viability of redevelopment. In addition to this, it is noted that simple, low cost measures, such as the creation of a buildings at risk register, have proven to be successful in bringing attention to historic buildings requiring intervention and spurring landowners and local communities to take action to save those buildings. The Irish Georgian Society would welcome an opportunity to engage with the key officials and Oireachtas Committees, and other key stakeholders, to achieve progress and an outcome on this urgent requirement
7. Development of a National Heritage Inventory of Cultural and Natural Sites
The consolidation, rationalisation and expansion of the work already done as part of the State’s Geospatial Data Hub (i.e. the GeoHive viewer) with the creation of a National Heritage Inventory of Cultural and Natural Sites (NICNS) would provide a “one stop shop” for information on sites of heritage importance of all levels of significance (e.g. local, regional, national and international) and would
- improve public engagement (including tourist engagement) with Ireland’s historic environment;
- inform the drafting of local, regional and national planning policy by identifying areas of particular architectural, archaeological and cultural heritage sensitivity; and
- provide a clear and simple resource for developers and investors so as to promote certainty and help direct investment appropriately.
A strategy and timeline should be adopted for undertaking and updating national surveys of assets of heritage importance. In addition to completing the NIAH Gardens Survey and reviewing work done to date, this could consider the potential for undertaking themed surveys by the NIAH such as of the interiors of important buildings, perhaps in collaboration with academic institutions.
8. Continued support Architectural Conservation Officers
The IGS welcomes the recent announcement of €1,000,000 in funding for local authorities to assist them in recruiting new heritage professionals in 2025. This will ensure that adequate resources will be given to every planning authority to engage Architectural Conservation Officers, who are so vital to the successful implementation of our architectural heritage protection legislation.
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About the Irish Georgian Society
The Irish Georgian Society is a membership organisation, which encourages and promotes the conservation of Ireland’s architectural heritage, historic gardens, and decorative arts. These aims are achieved through our education programmes, by supporting and undertaking conservation works, publishing original research, planning participation and fundraising. The Society has had a marked and widely acknowledged impact on the conservation of built heritage in the state and has wide experience of the problems associated with the restoration, repair and maintenance of the fabric of traditionally built structures that include country and town houses, churches and public buildings, thatched houses and architectural follies.
Irish Georgian Society – Major Project, 2024 & 2025
The Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh, Co. Cork, is one of Ireland’s finest maritime buildings and previously served as the home of the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Built in the 1850s to the designs of the architect Anthony Salvin, the building was saved from dereliction in the 1980s but now faces new challenges with works required to its roof, wings and to the quay wall on which it stands. Through the support of its members in the United States, during 2024 the Irish Georgian Society raised $250,000 to support the reinstatement of a central roof lantern and two chimney stacks, essential architectural features that were removed in the past. Further donations Irish and UK members has assisted with underpinning works to the seaward side of the building. These works were commenced in 2024, and are almost complete, while a further $200,000 has been raised in the US towards works planned for 2025.
- https://www.igs.ie/updates/article/sirius-arts-centre-restoration-project
- https://www.igs.ie/conservation/project/sirius-arts-centre-restoration-project-cobh-co-cork
IGS Conservation Grants Programme
Since 2000, the Irish Georgian Society has awarded in excess of €1.6m to over 180 projects throughout Ireland through its Conservation Grants Programme. These grants have assisted works to historic buildings that have ranged in character from country and town houses, to churches, thatched houses and garden buildings. The initiative is an essential and ongoing part of the Society’s works and is made possible through funding from IGS London, IGS Inc (USA) and sums raised in Ireland. Modest grants have assisted with the repair of countless roofs, windows and gutters, and enabled the preparation of conservation plans that can provide essential road maps in the restoration of historic buildings.
https://www.igs.ie/conservation/projects
[1] Ireland’s Long-Term Renovation Strategy, 2020, Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment
[2] ‘Don’t demolish our built heritage’, Ecclesiastical Insurance, August 2022
[3] Failte Ireland, Key Tourism Facts 2023 (2024)
[4] Please see the Heritage Council’s 2011 publication Economic Evaluation of the Historic Environment Ireland for further details on the importance of heritage to the Irish economy.
